Improvement in corsets



L. T. SMITH;

Corsets.

Patented lan.,22 1878..

n. PETERS. PHOTO Lrmo LYMAN T. SMITH, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORSETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,587, dated January 22, 1878; application file June 27, 1877.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LYMAN T. SMITH, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets, which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

A rigid waistband is combined with the corset, for the purpose of supporting the waist, by distributing the strain all around the body, and giving strength to the corset.

Elastic-web bands, as a back fastening, are combined with said rigid waistband, whereby a yielding of the corset around the bust and hips is obtained, while the rigid waist-supporting band is undisturbed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved corset and rigid waist-supporting band; Fig. 2, a rear elevation; Fig. 3, a detached view of the rigid waist-supporting band; and Fig. 4, a cross-section of the band, showing its concavo-convex form.

The waistband A is, preferably, of steel, and curved, as shown in the drawings, to fit the person in a proper manner. In its crosssection it is concavo-convex, with its convex side a to the body. It has two holes or eyelets, b, at the back, and three or more, 0 c c,

at each extreme, and may be covered with cloth or leather binding.

The convex side presented to the body prevents the edges from harassing the wearer or injuring the garments.

The eyelets b b at the back, in fastening the band to the corset, engage with buttons d d at the back of the corset, secured in the spring-stays at the waist-line, while the eyelets c c c are for the front fastening, with buttons e e, secured in a similar way at the front in the same natural waist line; and their number is in excess of one on each side or extreme of the band, to permit its expansion or contraction when it is desired to fit tightly or loosely to the body. 1

The band is thus fastened back and front to the corset, and its function is to give a rigid waist-support, strength to the corset, and consequent support to the body, the strain being distributed all round the waist. It has also the important advantage of preventing the tendency of the corset to turn, and to give a partial binding support to the skirts.

In the place of the usual lacing at the back, I use elastic bands f f, as shown. These permit the corset to give freely; but without the intervention of the rigid waistband this might not be desirable.

The combination of the rigid band, fastened at the waist-line with the elastic bands, serves the purpose well of permitting the corset to yield at the bust and hips, while it is kept in place by the rigid band at the waist.

I may make the band in two or more sections, and join them by a hinge-joint, g, of any suitable construction. I prefer, however, to join them by link-joints, similar to those shown.

The object of this construction is to allow the rigid band to be folded for convenience in packing, and when so folded it may be fastened by a hook or clasp in any suitable way.

The band A may not necessarily be of metal, as any suitable material, possessing in a degree similar spring properties, would answer, such as wood or whalebone.' v

The band is rigid lengthwise; but yields to conform to the body, and it may be made in a single piece.

I claim 1. .The combination, with a corset, of a con- I tinuous rigid waistband, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with a corset having buttons at d and e e, of a continuous rigid waistband having eyelets b b and c a, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3.'The combination. with a corset having elasticconnecting-bands, of a continuous rigid waistband, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4.. A continuous rigid waistband for corsets, having a concavo-convex form in cross-section, for the purpose described.

5. A continuous rigid waistband for corsets, having one or more hinge-joints, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LYMAN T. SMITH.

Witnesses:

J ULrUs Twrss, WILsoN H. CLARK. 

